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Travel Journal, The Forbidden City, Beijing, PRC. August – September 2005

Here’s one of our closer views of the northeast corner of the Forbidden City as we approach in our taxi en route to the north gate entrance.

There’s the north gate entrance of the Forbidden City and the two-way, busy motor and pedestrian traffic we had to cross on foot with little warning from the taxi driver. He literally dropped us off and gestured to “get out.”

Steven standing in front of the Forbidden City at the north gate entrance – Gate of Divine Might -before we paid our entrance/museum fees and after a rather “testy, challenging” walk across the street since our driver, gave little warning that we would have to cross on foot, a major roadway in order to access the FBC. At last we made it. This is the beginning of our walking tour of the Forbidden City, sans a tour guide.

Here I am prepared for our walking tour of the Forbidden City.

Steven doing his best with his one-arm-method portrait of us standing at the north gate of the FBC.

Waiting for me to stop taking pictures.

There’s the opposite view – from the north gate of the FBC – Jingshan Hill and Gardens to the north.

Poster boards describing – in English and Mandarin – features of the north gate entrance.

Detailed features of the FBC.

Detailed image of the duck pond canopy at northeast area of the FBC.

Steven in front of the inner court buildings with an interior rotunda, showcasing Ming dynasty wooden carvings.

Detailed rotunda view with intricate wooden carving from the Ming period. 1368-1644; 14th-17th century work.

Steven inside the rotunda standing on the northeast corner.

Capturing the moment inside the rotunda interior.

Mandarin-English description of inner court buildings.

Inner court directional signs leading to Palace Museum, further south and court gardens to the north.

Steven standing at the northern inner court leading up to the Palace of Tranquil Longevity, a complex built by the Qianlong Emperor pending his retirement.

Other tourists dodging for position to walk across a plank-like pathway to the front, southern elevation of the Palace of Tranquil Longevity.

Preserved, set behind glass, the interior of Emperor Qianlong’s Palace of Tranquil Longevity is protected from all visitors as we observe details of clothing, beddings, chairs through the protective covering.

Southern entrance to Emperor Qianlong’s Palace.

Steven stands at the visitors railing looking into the Palace of Heavenly Purity. At this point, he is suffering severely from allergies with dust and debris seem to fill the air of the FBC.

Interior of the main building of the Palace of Heavenly Purity for the Ming Emperor.

Steven at the entrance of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, behind him lies the famous emperor’s throne.

Updated 1June07